About Dustin Hardage

I’m Dustin Hardage and I am consumed with the great outdoors. I spend as much time as possible in Colorado hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, and camping. Professionally, I am Internet Marketing Director at a Christian holistic child development ministry, Compassion international in Colorado Springs, Colorado..

I’ve been hunting and fishing for well over 25 years.

THIS BLOG IS MEANT TO HELP YOU

This is my personal blog and is focused on Colorado hunting and fishing. I mostly enjoy do-it-yourself hunting for big game that I do on public land in Colorado. I’ll share about Colorado locations, I hope the insights will be useful in any location.

My goal is to share insightful, valuable content that can assist you in your outdoor adventures.

I really enjoy helping people get started hunting. It can seem overwhelming at first but I hope I can be a resource. So get in touch and let’s talk hunting.

I write on Colorado hunting, fishing, camping, hunting and fishing giveaways and contests, and sometimes I’ll share about other things don’t neatly fit in these categories.

Because this blog is just starting out I have not had the opportunity to share all my experience and knowledge online. So, please contact me, because I want to help you with your hunting and fishing experiences. You can contact me via e-mail, or follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

I will post at least two to three times per week. Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed so that you don’t miss a post.

My biggest influence on my love for the outdoors is my grandpa, a.k.a Papa. He took me on my first camping, hunting and fishing trips. He is one patient man. Now that I have kids, I realize that when I was with him … he really didn’t get to fish or hunt, but he took me anyway.

I am also a Christian. I strive for God to be the center of all I do. My desire is to be a Godly husband, father and be the spiritual leader of my home. I also believe strongly that he has called me to help the less fortunate, orphans, widows, the poor … Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” You can do something too, sponsor a child in poverty.

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

I have been married to my lovely wife since 1996 and have two amazing boys. I took my wife on her first camping trip with my grandpa before we got married (so she knew early on what she was getting into).

My family has a strong history of hunting and fishing together. We grew up going deer hunting with nearly 50 folks in deer camp. It was a priority, all the kids got pulled out of school and we would travel three hours away for a week-long camping and hunting adventure.

Camp was like a family reunion, my grandparents, great grandmother, three uncles and their families, my aunt, my great uncle and his wife and kids, and the list goes on. We had a huge army tent where everyone got together each night to eat, hang out and play games.

Those times strongly shaped me as child and as an adult. The trips have been going on for over 50 years and continue to this day.

THE IMPACT

I’ll never forget the many conversations I had with my grandpa as we sat on the bank of a lake or in the woods. Just spending that time with me told me so much. I hope I can come close to impacting my kids the way my grandpa has influenced me.

Once I was finally old enough to shoot, my uncle Danny took me on my first deer and elk hunt in New Mexico. When I was finally able to harvest my first deer, it was my uncle Dee that took me out hunting. I’ll never forget the times I have spent with these very special men in my life.

THE UNDERSTANDING

For me it is not just about the kill or catching something.

It is about the journey and being in God’s creation and letting Him speak to you through it. When I am experiencing the outdoors, I sense His presence, I feel at peace. The noise and busyness of life stops.

It is about spending quality time with family and friends. Creating memories that will last forever.

This is my personal blog. The opinions I express here do not necessarily represent those of my employer, Compassion International. The information I provide is on an as-is basis. I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.

I want to tell you how outstanding this blog is. You absolutely nailed it in every way. I couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve said here. I really loved the sermon you gave at Tooter’s funeral and the video. I sat here in my office welling up when I read it. You are an awesome Godly man. I am and have always been so proud to call you my big brother. My prayer for you is that God use this blog to open doors for you and for others that you couldn’t even imagine.

Love ya man,

– Tanner

P.S. – Your inviting me to elk hunt with you means more to me than you know. It’s not something I take lightly. It’s kind of like you said about Tooter “he really didn’t get to fish or hunt, but he took me anyway.” I know its not convienient for you to let me go with you. But hey, when we do go we may not kill anything but I can guarantee there will be some guys having a good time enjoying some fellowship and time in the Good Lord’s creation.

Tanner,
Thanks a million. I really appreciate your kind words and positive feedback. Its just too bad we live so far apart.

It is my pleasure to help you get into elk hunting. I was very fortunate to have someone help me get started, my uncle Danny and Papa Tooter. My first four years of elk hunting were done in New Mexico via black powder just after I got out of college. I didn’t have anything. So they told me to just show up and they would provide everything I needed (gun, food, etc). When I look back, I now realize what a big deal that was and I am so thankful. So it would be my pleasure to do all I can to help you out. Can’t wait for you to come hunting in the Rocky Mountains for some big game. It is an amazing experience whether you get one or not.

God has been so good to me and I feel very blessed. Thanks for your prayers.